Container



Dec. 29, 1964 E. l. VALYl 3,163,544

CONTAINER Filed March 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 VIII/I/I/III/II f/vaev Z.V44 Y/ ATTORNEY l. VALYI CONTAINER Dec. 29, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMarch 6. 1962 INVENTOR ENERY Z V44 Y/ ATTORNEY United States Patent3,163,544 CONTAINER Emery I. Valyi, 5200 Sycamore Ave, New York 71, NY.Filed Mar. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 177,885 2 (Ilaims. (Cl. 99-171) Thisinvention relates to containers and more particularly to a container forfluids, granulated materials, or for food products and the like.

An object is to provide a scalable and recloseable fluid tight bag ofpliable materials having an integral closure.

Another object is to provide a container of the above type in which ascalable, substantially fluid tight, collapsible bag of pliable materiali disposed within an outer container having greater strength or rigiditybut not necessarily in itself fluid tight.

Another object is to provide a container of the above type wherein theinner bag is composed of an organic plastic material molded and blowninto b ag form and enclosed in an outer container of protective materialsuch as cardboard, glass or plastic.

Another object is to provide such a container in a form adapted forshipment and assembly at the point of use.

Various other objects and adavntagcs will be apparent as the nature ofthe invention is more fully disclosed.

In accordance with this invention the container, which in one embodimentof this invention, forms an inner liner, consists of a bag of organicplastic material having an upper rim forming the pouring lip of thecontainer and having integrally formed therewith a closure lid which, ifhinged to the rim, is adapted to be' folded over into closing engagementwith the rim. A thin walled bag depends from the top rim. Such a thinwalled bag may constitute the liner for the container. The parts thusfar described are injection molded in a suitable die and the bag portionis distened into final form by being blown in a blow mold or by thepressure exerted in filling the bag. It is understood that the containerdescribed herein may be made in various sizes according to the commodityto be packaged.

This assembly is adapted to be used by itself to serve as a container,or to be placed within an outer container such as a bottle, jar, papercarton, or rigid plastic jar or the like. When used within such an outercontainer, the plastic bag is adapted to be passed through the topopening of the outer container with the top rim resting on the top panelof the container or snapping into position in a bead of the container.In some instances a top panel is molded integral with the top rim of thebag. In any case the bag is adapted to be expanded to fill the containerby the weight of the contents of the bag or by the pressure exerted infilling the bag. In one embodiment for dispensing frozen juices the bagmay be held in a disposable box or the like of the size of the frozenproduct. For use the bag is removed from this box and is placed in acontainer of the size required to hold the water with which the productis to be mixed. The container is then filled with water which mixes withthe frozen prodnot to reconstitute the juice or the like. This providesa convenient shaker for the juice and eliminates the necessity formeasuring the quantity of Water to be added.

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in whichcertain specific embodiments have been set forth for the purposes ofillustration.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container bag embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

ice

FIG. 3 is a vertical section of a container bag with parts broken away,illustrating a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section similar to FIG. 3 illustrating anembodiment wherein the lower portion of the bag is folded and with thetop rim grooved to snap into the neck of a container;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section showing the bag in place in a container;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section similar to FIG. 5 illustrating a dilferentembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bag and box adapted to contain aproduct such as frozen juice; and

FIG. 8 is a vertical section showing the bag of FIG. 7 in place in acontainer prior to adding water for reconstituting the juice.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the container or liner is shown ascomprising a top rim 10 adapted to form the opening of the bag andpreferably made by injection molding of an organic plastic material. Abag 11 depends from the rim It) and is also made by injection moldingbut is adapted to be expanded in size as by blowing or by filling thebag with a liquid or other material to be dispensed. The bag 11 is shownin FIG. 2 as expanded into the form of a body 12, which may serve as acontainer by itself, or as a liner-insert, as described below. Thespherical shape of the body 12 shown in FIG. 2 is intended to serve onlyas a schematic illustration, the shape of body 12 being determined inactual use by the materials to be contained therein.

A closure lid 14 having an indentation 15 forming a shoulder to fit intothe opening of the rim I0 is attached to the rim It) by a hinge tab 16having a reduced section 17 to facilitate bending. The closure lid 14 isadapted to be folded over at the hinge section 17 to fit into the insideof the rim it) for closing the bag or container. The closure lid 14 andhinge tab 16 are injection molded with the him 10. A suitable mold formaking such a body is shown in co-pending application Serial Number850,696, filed November 3, 1959, now Patent No. 3,029,468, dated April17, 1962, it being understood that the mold component parts showntherein are shaped to conform to the article of the present invention.

It is understood that the bag can be used by itself, or in connectionwith an outer container in which it may be inserted and secured in anyconvenient manner a illustrated in the following embodiments.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 the bag is generally simihar to that ofFIGS. 1 and 2. In this form an upper rim 20 carries an outwardlyextending wall 21 forming the top of the bag with downwardly extendingside walls 22 shown as pleated for folding or collapsing. The bagincludes a relatively flat seamless bottom wall 23. A cover lid 24having an annular groove 25 adapted to fit over the rim Z9 is attachedto the rim 2% by i8. hinge tab 26 having a hinge section 27 of reducedthickness as in the form of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The bag of FIG. 3 is adapted to be used With an outer container, such asfor example a paper bag, not shown, or may be used independently,depending upon the material to be contained therein.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the top rim St ha an outer groove 31adapted to snap into an inner bead 32 formed in the neck portion 33 of ajar or container 34. The bag 35 depends from the rim 3t) and is shown asfolded over in folds 36 at the bottom prior to being distended to fitthe inside of the container 34 as shown in dot and dash lines 37 Aclosure lid 33 havingan outer flange 39 is attached to the rim 30 by ahinge tab 4% as in the previous forms. The periphery of flange 39extends beyond the rim 30 so as to provide a lifting edge when the coveris in closed 3 position. The closure lid 38 is of a thickness to fitwithin and grip the inside surface of the rim 30 for sealing thecontents.

In this embodiment, the bag is adapted to be unfolded and expandedwithin the container by the weight of the liquid or other material withwhich the container is filled. I

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the top rim 10 and bag 11 are similar tothe form of FIGS. 1 and 2 and have been given the same referencenumbers. In this embodiment however, the top rim 10 is joined with a topwall 45 which is molded integral with the rim 10 and is provided with adepending skirt 46 which is shown as seating around the top of acontainer 47. The closure lid 14 is hinged as in FIGS. 1 and 2. The rim10 is positioned at one side of the top wall 45 to facilitate thepouring of the contents. The container 47 may be square or round, rigidor pliable, according to the intended use. The bag 11 is expanded intothe shape indicated by dot and dash lines.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the bag 11, rim 10 and lid 14 are generallysimilar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 except that the indentation 15 isshown to be conical, to fit Within the rim 10 and the lid is providedwith a thumb tab 50. The bag extends through a hole 51 in a top panel 52which may be formed of cardboard or the like with the rim 10 resting onthe upper surface of the top panel. The panel 52 rests on the top edgeof a jar or container 53.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the invention as applied to the packaging of frozenjuice concentrates or the like which are to be diluted with a givenamount of water. In this form the bag is similar to that of FIG. withthe bottom portion folded over to fit within a box 60 having a cover 61.The top panel 45 is of a size to fit within the box 60 which may besquare in section if desired. The box 60 is of a size to contain frozenjuice concentrate or the like.

When the frozen concentrate i to be used the box 60 is opened and thebag 12 removed and placed in a container 62. The container 62 is shownas having a groove 63 into which the rim of the panel 45 seats. If thepanel 45 has a skirt 46 as in FIG. 5, it would be made to fit within thetop of the container 62. The container 62 is made of a size to hold therequired amount of Water which is to be added to the frozen concentrate.In use the frozen concentrate will fall to the bottom of the container62, expanding the bag 12 as it falls and the bag will substantially fillout the container 62 when water is added. In this way the concentrate iscorrectly diluted for consumption without the necessity of measuring thequantity of water which is added.

What is claimed is:

1. A seamless fluid container of organic plastic material comprising atop rim having a pliable collapsible bag section having a thicknesssubstantially less than that of said rim depending therefrom, a closurelid adapted to engage said top rim for closing the opening thereof, saidclosure lid being joined to said rim by a hinge tab, said bag section,rim, tab and lid being of one piece molded construction, said bagsection being adapted to be expanded by internal pressure, and a toppanel integral therewith extending outwardly from said top rim andconstituting the top closure of a jar or the like.

2. A container having a top opening and a food package disposed in saidcontainer, said package comprising a top rim having depending therefroma pliable collapsible bag section having a thickness substantially lessthan that of said rim and containing a food item, a top panel extendingoutwardly from said top rim and integnal therewith, closing the openingof said container, a closure lid engaging said top rim closing theopening thereof, said closure lid being joined to said rim by a hingetab, said bag section, n'm, tab and lid being of one-piece moldedconstruction, said package being adapted to fit through the top openingof said container and being substantially smaller in volume than saidcontainer, said bag section being adapted to be extended to conform tothe interior or" the container by filling said bag with a fluid.

References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS1,695,076 Zohe Dec. 11, 1928 2,321,998 Crouch June 15, 1943 2,454,919Hagan Nov. 30, 1948 2,557,648 Gerson June 19, 1951 2,685,316 Krasno Aug.3, 1954 2,695,732 Tupper Nov. 30, 1954 2,719,628 Ivanofi Oct. 4, 19552,748,673 Winstead June 5, 1956 2,852,054 Motley Sept. 16, 19582,857,080 Elias Oct. 21, 1958 2,876,113 Barton Mar. 3, 1959 2,987,212'Scanlon June 6, 1961 2,992,501 Douglas July 18, 1961 3,045,859 McMahonJuly 24, 1962 3,052,371 Van Bemmelen Sept. 4, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS570,276 Italy Dec. 5, 1957 716,477 France Oct. 6, 1931 1,239,091 FranceJuly 11, 1960

2. A CONTAINER HAVING A TOP OPENING AND A FOOD PACKAGE DISPOSED IN SAIDCONTAINER, SAID PACKAGE COMPRISING A TOP RIM HAVING DEPENDING THEREFROMA PLIABLE COLLAPSIBLE BAG SECTION HAVING A THICKNESS SUBSTANTIALLY LESSTHAN THAT OF SAID RIM AND CONTAINING A FOOD ITEM, A TOP PANEL EXTENDINGOUTWARDLY FROM SAID TOP RIM AND INTEGRAL THEREWITH, CLOSING THE OPENINGOF SAID CONTAINER, A CLOSURE LID ENGAGING SAID TOP RIM CLOSING THEOPENING THEREOF, SAID CLOSURE LID BEING JOINED TO SAID RIM BY A HINGETAB, SAID BAG SECTION, RIM, TAB AND LID BEING OF ONE-PIECE MOLDEDCONSTRUCTION, SAID PACKAGE BEING ADAPTED TO FIT THROUGH THE TOP OPENINGOF SAID CONTAINER AND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER IN VOLUME THAN SAIDCONTAINER, SAID BAG SECTION BEING ADAPTED TO BE EXTENDED TO CONFROM TOTHE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER BY FILLING SAID BAG WITH A FLUID.